Marvel's Forgotten Mass Effect Clone Couldn't Escape the Avengers' Failure
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, praised for its writing and combat, underperformed commercially despite strong reviews and a unique narrative approach.
The Avengers films have earned nearly $8 billion globally, but their success hasn’t translated to video games. Crystal Dynamics’ 2020 Marvel’s Avengers, despite strong character writing, suffered from repetitive combat and live-service mechanics, setting a challenging precedent for Marvel’s next game from Square Enix.
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, released on Oct. 26, 2021, introduced fresh storytelling by exploring Quill’s paternal uncertainty and deepening character arcs for Gamora, Rocket, and others, blending universe-scale stakes with personal drama.
Combat in Guardians of the Galaxy mirrors Mass Effect’s tactical teamwork, where Quill directs abilities and delivers pep talks during battles, accompanied by an original 1980s-inspired soundtrack from the fictional band 'Star-Lord.'
Despite critical acclaim, Guardians of the Galaxy failed to meet Square Enix’s sales expectations, with Yosuke Matsuda noting the game’s launch undershot initial projections, reaching over 8 million players by November 2022 through sales and subscriptions.